Fastening means



B. LEE ET AL Feb. 25,1936.

FASTENING MEANS Filed Jan, 14, 1955 Fig.4

atented Feb. 25, 3

FAS'HEG IWEAN S Application January 14, 1935, Serial No. 1,773 In Great Britain January 16, 1934 3 Claims. (01. 292-75) This invention relates to improvements in or connected with fastening means for retaining a door, window, fan-light or other slidable or swingable member in a desired position.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved fastening device of the kind comprising a ball mounted in a socket and means for resiliently urging said ball into an operative position in which it projects from said socket.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device of the above kind which is simple and efiicient in operation and which is of attractive appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device of the above kind adapted to be easily fitted to a door, window, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to, provide a fastening device of the above kind, in which arrangements are provided whereby said ball may be locked at will in its operative position.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the provision in a fastening device of the kind comprising a ball mounted in a socket and means for resiliently urging said ball into an operative position in which it projects from said socket, of a fixed abutment located in alignment with but spaced from said ball, and a pivoted abutment capable of being swung into and said ball.

In order that our invention may be well understood we will now describe by way of example some embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of fastening device.

Figure 2 is a part sectional plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line m-m of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an embodiment of a fastening device having dual control and I Figure 5 is a detail view on an enlarged scale of the device shown in Figure 4. 7

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 the device illustrated is in the form of a tumbler switch and may be fitted to or recessed in a door or other desired member in any convenient manner. Said device includes a ball l9 mounted within a socket 28 the end of which is slightly inturned so that the ball is prevented from passing out of the socket although it can move into a partially projecting position. A plunger 22 passes through. said socket and rests on the rear part of the ball it, the contacting end of the rod preferably being enlarged and capped for this purpose. Said plunger is adapted to serve as a guide for a compression spring 2211 located within said socket and abutting at one end and against an enlarged portion of the plunger and at the other end 5 against a collar 2i, said collar being adapted to make screw threaded engagement with the socket 20 so that the tension in the aforesaid spring may be adjusted.

A fixed abutment 23 is located in alignment 10 with the plunger 22 but is spaced therefrom. A pivoted abutment M is adapted to be moved at will into and out of the space between the fixed abutment 23 and the rod 22 thereby preventing or permitting rearward movements of the ball I9. 15 Movements of said pivoted abutment tfl are controlled by means of a lever or knob 25 resembling the knob of a tumbler switch the inter-connection between said parts also resembling that of a tumbler switch in that the abutment 25 moves into. 20 and out of its on and off positions with a snap action and is firmly retained in either of such positions. The control element may conveniently be mounted on a base plate 26 which may be secured to a door or the like by means of screws or 25 in any other convenient manner and any desired provision such for example as that shown in Figure 1 may be made for indicating whether the device is locked or unlocked.

The depression or depressions for co-operation 30 with the aforesaid ball it may be formed in the frame of a door for example or in a plate secured thereto. In applying our invention to cupboard doors or the like it will only usually be necessary to provide a single aperture for engagement with the ball of the fastening device.

Figure 4 shows a fastening device similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 fitted to a door and having dual control means, i. e. the switch-knob 40 2'3 and the lever 23. As will be seen from the enlarged view in Figure 5, the fastening device includes a pivoted abutment 29 operable by means of the switch lever 27 and by means of a lever 28 connected to said abutment 29 by means of a 45 flexible cable'ilil. The distant control 28 will generally be found more convenient for operation when the device is applied to a door and such control mayof course be located in any desired position.

Whilst wehave herein before described some embodiments of our invention we wish it to be understood that the particular details may be varied and modified without departing from the scope of such invention.

We claim:-- i

1. A fastening device of the kind comprising a ball mounted within a socket, a spring for resiliently urging said ball into a position in which it projects from said socket and meansoperative at will for preventing said ball from being forced into a releasing position within said socket, in which said means comprise a fixed abutment located in axial alignment with said socket but spaced from said ball and a pivoted abutment capable of being moved into. and substantially filling said space between said ball and said fixed abutment or moved therefrom at will, said pivot disposed out of axial alinement with said ball,-

said pivoted abutment when in said space only being subjected to compression strains in the event of any attempt being made to force theball in a releasing direction but being free from any bending strains so rendering the device capable of withstanding very great pressure. I

2. A fastening device comprising a ball mounted within a socket and means for preventing the ball from being urged into a releasing position within its socket, said means comprising a fixed abutment located in alignment with the axis of the socket but spaced from said ball and a pivoted abutment movable in a plane at right angles to the axis of said socket andcapable of substantially filling the space between said fixed abutment and said ball whereby said pivoted abutment is only subjected to compression strains if an attempt is made to free said ball into its socket and can therefore withstand very great pressure. l r

3. A fastening device comprising a ball mounted within a socket and means for preventing the ball from being urged into a releasing position within its socket, said means comprising a fixed abutment located in alignment with but spaced from said ball, a pivoted abutment capable of being swung into and out of said space, said pivoted I abutment substantially filling said space when swung thereinto, and means for actuating said pivoted abutment, said last-mentioned, means comprising a pivoted lever making connection 20 FRANK PERCY IBEVIS. 25 

